STATEN ISLAND — Thanksgiving, turkey, stuffing and football — a time-honored tradition in many households around the country. When the holiday rolls around each November, we sit down after a good meal and turn on the television to watch some good college or pro football games. No doubt many will remember the great local high school rivalries of years past, particularly the classic Thanksgiving football game of 1959 between Curtis and New Dorp high schools chronicled in Jay Price’s book, “Thanksgiving 1959,” but few will remember the great Thanksgiving Day National Football League games played at Thompson’s Stadium. It only lasted four years, but what excitement these games generated! The Stapes, Staten Island’s own NFL football team, played the New York Giants on Thanksgiving Day from 1929-1932. Amazingly, the Stapes held their own against the mighty Giants with a 2-1-1 record. Of course, this doesn’t count the exhibition game the Stapes won against the New York Giants 7-0 before they joined the NFL in 1928. Since 1915, the Stapes played games against other semi-pro teams a full five years before the NFL existed and 10 years before the NFL came to New York. In fact, they were good enough to win several titles, including a Metropolitan championship before World War I. The team was formed by Dan Blaine and several other players, with each player earning a salary of $10 per game. Blaine became a successful restaurateur and took over sole ownership of the team in 1919. He continued to play halfback until 1924, when he retired at the age of 33. The Stapes remained the football power in the area until Tim Mara formed the Giants in the new NFL and moved them into the Polo Grounds in 1925. The Stapes joined the NFL in 1929. One of the Stapes’ and the NFL’s greatest players at the time was an All-America tailback from NYU named Ken Strong. He was a versatile athlete. Not only did he lead all college football players in scoring his senior year, he was also a coveted baseball player, signing with the New York Yankees to play the outfield.

Future NFL Hall of Famer Ken Strong.Staten Island Advance

One of the first two-sport athletes, Strong focused on football after several injuries ended his baseball career in 1931. Strong was hired by the Stapes at an amazing salary of $5,000, plus a rent-free apartment for the season. The Giants had also pursued Strong, but only offered him $200 per game. Later in his career, Strong would play for the Giants. After his career was over, Strong was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In 1929, there were 12 teams in the NFL, with names like the Triangles, the Yellow Jackets, the Tornadoes, the Steam Roller and the Bulldogs — not exactly household names. Season tickets were sold for $18, which also included an exhibition game. In their first year, the Stapes compiled a 3-4-3 record and finished sixth. Although they lost that year to the Giants on Thanksgiving Day, 21-7, things were going well for the Stapes. They drew capacity crowds of 10,000 for home games and brought 10,000 fans to the Polo Grounds when they played the Giants. The following year was better for the Stapes, compiling a 5-5-2 record, once again finishing sixth. They won a thriller against the Giants on Thanksgiving Day, 7-6. Unfortunately, their fortunes were about to change. The Depression began to takes its toll on the league. By 1931, the NFL had shrunk to eight teams, and the Stapes were barely holding on as their attendance dwindled. Their record in that year slipped to 4-6-1 and the following year, the last year they were active in the league, they dropped to 2-7-3. The only bright spot was that they continued to play well against the Giants at Thompson’s Stadium. In 1931, they beat the Giants 9-6 and in their last year, 1932, they managed to tie the Giants 13-13 on Thanksgiving. The Stapes continued to lose money and were forced to suspend football operations in 1933 and again in 1934. The following year, the Stapes franchise was declared forfeit by the league. It was officially over, but not before the Stapes brought many exciting moments to their fans and helped to make local football a tradition on Thanksgiving Day.